Revolving disc spray type evaporator



1967 J. F. KOPCZYNSKI 3,344,833

REVOLVING DISC SPRAY TYPE EVAPORATOR Filed Dec. 5, 1965 cozvcmlf/Pfire INVENTOR.

777a): 17. Farmer ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,344,836 REVOLVING DISC SPRAY TYPE EVAPGRATOR John F. Kopczynski, 1671 Sweeney St., North Tonawanda, N.Y. 14120 Filed Dec. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 511,485 12 Claims. (Cl. 159-3) This invention relates to Vaporizers in which a component of a liquid may be vaporized and removed from the balance of the liquid, or all of a liquid may be vaporized, and which is also useful in studying the effect on various liquids of vaporizing conditions that do not utilize heat in the vaporization.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved centrifugal device in which a liquid may be introduced into a high speed rotor and vaporized by discharge therefrom into a partial vacuum, in which the partial vacuum is a maximum and vaporization of the liquid is a maximum, with which a vaporizable component of the introduced liquid is easily, rapidly, effectively and inexpensively separated from the balance of the liquid, and the component and the said balance separated from one another as a continuous operation, which will not damage the liquid or any component thereof by heat, and which is relatively simple, practical, effective and inexpensive.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of two examples of the invention and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in connection with the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a sectional plan of the rotor of a device embodying this invention, the section being taken approximately along the line 11 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view, with some parts in sectional elevation, of a device made in accordance with this invention, and using the rotor shown in FIG. 1, the section being taken approximately along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan of a portion of a rotor embodying the invention, but illustrating a modification of the rotor; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the modification shown in FIG. 3, as viewed from the line 44 of FIG. 3.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the device includes a body or rotor with a chamber 11 therein that is concentric with the outer periphery of the rotor 10. The body or rotor 10 is fixed on the upper end of an upright shaft 12 supported for rotation at its upper end and below the rotor 10 by a bearing 13 of a support 14. A closed housing 15 encircles and encloses the rotor 10 and rests upon the upper end of the bearing 14. The housing has a removable cover 16, and an exhaust pipe 17 is carried by the cover and opens through it. A control valve 18 is provided in pipe 17 and this pipe leads to the intake side of an exhaust pump 19, the outlet of which is connected by pipe 20 to the upper part of a condenser 21, and a drian pipe 22 leads from the bottom of the condenser for removing condensed vapors. The pump 19, when running while valve 18 is open, creates a partial vacuum in the closed housing 15.

The bottom wall of the housing is inclined to a drain opening leading to outlet pipe 23 controlled by a valve 24, so that any non-vaporized components of the treated liquid may be collected and removed separately from the vapors through pipe 23. An inlet pipe 25 having therein a control valve 26 extends through a seal in the cover 16 and through a seal ring 27, such as an O-ring, in the top of the rotor 10 for continuously introducing into chamber 11 of the rotor, while the rotor is rotating, a liquid having at least a component which it is desired to remove therefrom. The pipe 25 enters rotor 10 concentrically with the axis of rotation of the rotor, and the peripheral wall "ice of chamber 11 of the rotor is also concentric with the axis of rotation of the rotor.

The outer peripheral wall 28 of the rotor is generally cylindrical, except as will be explained, and a plurality of recesses 29 are provided in the rotor at intervals along the outer peripheral wall and opening outwardly through the peripheral wall. The rotor also has outwardly converg ing passages 30 connecting the chamber 11 with the inner ends of recesses 29. Each passage 30 opens at its larger end into chamber 11 in the peripheral wall thereof, and its smaller end opens through the inner end wall of a recess closely to that side wall 31 of the recess which is the leading side when the rotor turns in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1. The longitudinal axes of the passages 30 and recesses 29 are inclined to radii of chamber 11, so that the passages and recesses trail rearwardly and outwardly with respect to the direction of rotation A of the rotor. The smaller, outer or nozzle end of each passage 30 discharges abruptly into its recess 29 with its orifice opening through the inner end wall of the recess. The area of each such orifice opening is considerably smaller than the area of the inner end wall of the recess through which the passage 30 discharges. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the area of said orifice or opening at the discharge end of each passage 30 is less than one-third of the end face area of the recess 29 and preferably it is less than one-eighth of such end face area.

The width of each recess at its outer open face, transverse to the wall 28, is considerably less than the width of the wall 28 so as to leave peripheral strip areas 40 of the wall 38 of substantial width on each side of the recess as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The peripheral wall 38 of the rotor has air foil surfaces 41 designed to obtain reaction upon the peripheral wall surfaces from air or fluid that lies along the peripheral wall as the wall has its travel. One example of such an air foil surface is shown in FIG. 1 in which wall, beginning just before the open face of each recess is made outwardly convex and arcuate so that the peripheral wall increases, in its distance from the axis of rotation, from just in front of the recess open face to a position somewhat to the rear of such open face and then decreases slowly after passing the open face of a recess before a new open face of a recess is found. This curved, arcuate, radially outwardly progressing peripheral wall, which is for the full width of the rotor, cams air or fluid outwardly in passing and this creates a partial vacuum over such curved arcuate surface and since the recess has its open face disposed in such area where the suction occurs, this aids in creating a suction in the recess. The passages 30 and recesses 29 are open solely at their ends and are closed between their ends.

The rotor 10 is conveniently made in two parts to facilitate the creation of the chamber 11 and for providing access to form the passages 30. For this purpose the rotor in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a removable cover 10a with .a flange 10b that telescopes into the open face of chamber 11 to center the cover, with a seating ring such as an O-ring 44 (FIG. 2) disposed between the flange 10b and the side wall of chamber 11. The open face of chamber 11 is en larged enough to receive the flange 10b with the inner periphery of the flange forming a smooth continuation of the peripheral wall of chamber 11. This peripheral wall of the chamber has arranged along it several ribs 45 of short radial height to resist or retard swirling of any liquid in the chamber while the rotor is rotative. The inner peripheral wall 15 of the housing is also provided with a plurality of ribs 46 of short radial height to retard swirling of any fluid in that part of the housing around the rotors periphery.

The modification shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is the same as in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the recesses 29b, instead of being cylindrical in cross section as in FIGS. 1

and 2, vary progressively and decreasingly in depth from the leading end wall 48, along and close to which the passages 30b discharge, in a trailing direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotor, so that the maximum depth of the recess will be greatest at Wall 48 and decrease in a trailing direction. The widths of these recesses however are less than the width of the outer peripheral wall of the rotor so. that the recess will open outwardly solely through the air foil peripheral wall surface and be closed on its sides. It should be noted that in this modification the passages 3017 are elongated to be equal to the width of the recesses 29b to take advantage of the vacuum along their full width.

In use, the shaft is rotated at a high speed in the direction of arrow A and while it is so rotating, a liquid with a component to be vaporized is continuously introduced through pipe 25 into chamber 11. At the same time the pump 19 will be operated, and a cooling medium such as water passed through the condenser 21. Valves 26 and 18 will be open and valve 24 closed. The introduced liquid will form a layer along the outer peripheral wall of the chamber 11 where the layer rotates with the rotor. The centrifugal forces created on this liquid layer will force some of the liquid through the passages 30* at high pressure and discharge it from the small tapered end of the passage into a recess 29 or 29b. Air or fluid along the outer periphery of the rotor in its relative movement peripherally along the rotor will tend to create a suction or partial vacuum in the recesses so that the liquid discharged from the passages 30 will be into a partial vacuum. This sudden fall in pressure results in maximum vaporization of some of the discharged liquid. The air foil surface of the rotor along the open faces of the apertures causes further suction or partial vacuum in the recesses so as to further increase the sudden fall of pressure on the discharged liquid with still greater tendency to vaporization of some of the discharged liquid. When a wall is rotating in a direction generally normal to its face area, a partial vacuum or suction will be created on its trailing or leeward face and hence the passages 30 are arranged to discharge near the trailing wall of each recess, so as to utilize this added suction on the discharged liquid. The component of the liquid which is vaporized in this manner is removed and passed through the condenser and recovered for use, and the balance of the discharged liquid collects on the bottom wall of the housing and is withdrawn from time to time by opening valve 24. The tapering of the passages 30 acts to speed up the rate of flow and energy in the liquid passing, in the same manner that a nozzle is used in a garden hose. The sudden fall in pressure on a fast moving stream aids in the breaking up of the discharged liquid under partial vacuum conditions so that maximum vaporization occurs without the use of heat that might damage some component of the introduced liquid. The vaporization is rapid and continuous, and accomplished in relatively simple and compact apparatus.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, proportions, materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for converting a component of a liquid into a vapor, which comprises:

(a) an annular body mounted for rotation and having therein a closed chamber substantially concentric V with the axis of rotation of the body,

(b) said body having therein a plurality of recesses opening outwardly through the outer peripheral wall of the body and arranged in succession and circular spaced apart along that wall and also a corresponding number of passages each respectively opening at one, 31d i to said chamber through the inner pe- A ripheral wall of the chamber and at its other end into the inner end of a said recess,

(0) the width of each recess at its open face in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the body being less than the width of said wall at the recess in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation,

(d) the peripheral wall of said body having an air foil cambered surface with regard to the direction of rotation, just preceding and at each recess for increasing the tendency of the ambient fluid along the periphery of the body, during rotation of the body, to create a partial vacuum radial lift action at the open face of each recess, and

(e) means for delivering a liquid for vaporization to said chamber during rotation of said body.

2. The device according to claim 1, and a housing enclosing said body and having one outlet connected to suction means and a condenser to remove vapors and create a partial vacuum in said chamber, and a drainage outlet in its bottom portion for removong any component of the introduced liquid which is unvaporized the inside peripheral wall of said housing having means to retard swirling of any fluid in said housing around said body.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein each of said passages opens into its related recess close to the leading side wall of the recess with respect to the direction of rotation of the body.

4, The device according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of each recess is inclined outwardly and rearwardly in a trailing direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the body.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axes of the passages and recesses are inclined outwardly and rearwardly in a direction trailing with respect to the direction of rotation of the body.

6. A device for converting a component of a liquid into a vapor, which comprises:

' (a) a body mounted for rotation and having therein a closed chamber substantially concentric with the axis of rotation of the. body,

(b) said body having therein a plurality of recesses opening outwardly through the outer peripheral wall of the body and arranged in succession and spaced apart along that wall and also closed passages each Opening at one end into said chamber through the outer peripheral wall of the chamber and at its other end into the inner end of a recess,

(c) the width of each recess at its open face in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the body being less than the width of said wall at the recess in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation,

(d) the peripheral wall of said body having an air foil surface, with regard to the direction of rotation just preceding and at each recess for increasing the ten-.

dency of fluid along the periphery of the body, during rotation of the body, to create a partial vacuum at the open face of each recess, 7

(e) means for delivering a liquid for vaporization to said chamber during rotation of said body, and

(f) the recesses at their open faces progressively decreasing in depth in a trailing direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the body and having their sides closed.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein each passage opens into its related recess close to the leading side wall of the recess with respect to the direction of rotation of the body, and the'recesses at their open faces progressively decrease in depth in a trailing direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the body and have their sides closed.

8. A device for converting a component of a liquid into a vapor, which comprises:

(a) an annular body mounted for rotation and having therein a closed chamber substantially concentric with the axis of rotation of the body,

(b) said body having therein a plurality of recesses opening outwardly through the outer peripheral wall of the body and arranged in succession and circulaz spaced apart along that wall, and also a corresponding number of passages each respectively opening at one end into said chamber through the inner peripheral wall of the chamber and at its other end into the inner end of a said recess,

(c) the width of each recess at its open face in a direction parallel to the said axis of rotation of the body being less than the width of said wall at the recess in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation,

(d) the peripheral wall of said body having an air foil cambered surface with regard to the direction of rotation just preceding and at each recess for increasing the tendency of the ambient fluid along the periphery of the body, during rotation of the body, to create a partial vacuum radial lift action at the open face of each recess,

(e) means for delivering to said chamber, during rotation of said body, a liquid at least a component of which is to be vaporized, and

(f) a housing enclosing said body and having an outlet connected to a source of suction, for removing vapor and creating a partial vacuum in the chamber, and a drain for removing any of the introduced liquid which is unvaporized.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said passage are convergingly tapered outwardly and discharge into said recesses close to the wall of the recess which is leading, with respect to the direction of rotation of the body.

10. A device for converting a component of a liquid into a vapor, which comprises:

(a) a body mounted for rotation and having therein a closed chamber substantially concentric with the axis of rotation of the body,

(b) said body having therein a plurality of recesses opening outwardly through the outer peripheral wall of the body and arranged in sucession and spaced apart along that wall, and also closed passages each opening at one end into said chamber through the outer peripheral Wall of the chamber and at its other end into the inner end of a recess,

(c) the width of each recess at its open face in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the body being less than the width of said wall at the recess, in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation,

(d) the peripheral wall of said body having an air foil surface with regard to the direction of rotation just preceding and at each recess for increasing the tendency of fluid along the periphery of the body, during rotation of the body, to create a partial vacuum at the open face of each recess,

(e) means for delivering to said chamber, during rotation of said body, a liquid at least a component of which is to be vaporized, and

(f) a housing enclosing said body and having an outlet connected to a source of suction, for removing vapor and creating a partial vacuum in the chamber, and a drain for removing any of the introduced liquid which is unvaporized,

(g) said passages being convergingly tapered outwardly and discharging into said recesses close to the wall of the recess which is leading, with respect to the direction of rotation of the body and the recesses at their open faces progressively decreasing in depth in a direction traling with respect to the direction of rotation of the body and have their sides closed.

11. A device for converting a component of a liquid into a vapor, which comprises:

(a) a body mounted for rotation and having therein a closed chamber substantially concentric with the axis of rotation of the body,

(b) said body having therein a plurality of recesses opening outwardly through the outer peripheral Wall of the body and arranged in succession and spaced apart along that wall and also closed passages each opening at one end into said chamber through the outer peripheral wall of the chamber and at its other end into the inner end of a recess,

(c) the width of each recess at its open face in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the body being less than the width of said wall at the recess in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation,

(d) the peripheral wall of said body having an air foil surface, with regard to the direction of rotation just preceding and at each recess for increasing the tendency of fluid along the periphery of the body, during rotation of the body, to create a partial vacuum at the open face of each recess,

(e) means for delivering a liquid for vaporization to said chamber during rotation of said body, and (f) said air foil surface being a convex, arcuate, rising surface in a radial direction beginning immediately in front of and ledaing to the open face of each recess and after the recess decreasing in its distance from the axis of rotation of the body, toward the next recess along the outer peripheral Wall of the body.

12. A device for converting a component of a liquid into a vapor, which comprises:

(a) a body mounted for rotation and having therein a closed chamber substantially concentric with the axis of rotation of the body,

(b) said body having therein a plurality of recesses opening outwardly through the outer peripheral Wall of the body and arranged in sucession and spaced apart along that Wall and also closed passages each opening at one end into said chamber through the outer peripheral wall of the chamber and at its other end into the inner end of a recess,

(c) the width of each recess at its open face in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the body being less than the width of said Wall at the recess in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation,

(d) the peripheral wall of said body having an air foil surface, with regard to the direction of rotation just preceding and at each recess for increasing the tendency of fluid along the periphery of the body, during rotation of the body, to create a partial vacuum at the open face of each recess,

(e) means for delivering a liquid for vaporization to said chamber during rotation of said body, and

(f) said air foil surface being an individual convex,

arcuate radial rise in the surface on the outer peripheral wall of the body, each beginning immediately in front of and leading to the open face of a recess and after the recesses decreasing in its distance from the axis of rotation of the body toward the next recess along the outer peripheral wall of the body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,319,230 5/ 1943 Harrington 103-262 2,780,175 2/1957 Thoren et al 103-97 2,990,011 6/1961 Stratford 1594 3,102,062 8/ 1963 Graham et al. 1593 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,768 1910 Great Britain. 257,532 3/1928 Italy.

NORMAN YUDKOFF, Primary Examiner.

J. SOFER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR CONVERTING A COMPONENT OF A LIQUID INTO A VAPOR, WHICH COMPRISES: (A) AN ANNULAR BODY MOUNTED FOR ROTATION AND HAVING THEREIN A CLOSED CHAMBER SUBSTANTIALLY CONCENTRIC WITH THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE BODY, (B) SAID BODY HAVING THEREIN A PLURALITY OF RECESSES OPENING OUTWARDLY THROUGH THE OUTER PERIPHERAL WALL OF THE BODY AND ARRANGED IN SUCCESSION AND CIRCULAR SPACED APART ALONG THAT WALL AND ALSO A CORRESPONDING NUMBER OF PASSAGES EACH RESPECTIVELY OPENING AT ONE END INTO SAID CHAMBER THROUGH THE INNER PERIPHERAL WALL OF THE CHAMBER AND AT ITS OTHER END INTO THE INNER END OF A SAID RECESS, (C) THE WIDTH OF EACH RECESS AT ITS OPEN FACE IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE BODY BEING LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID WALL AT THE RECESS IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAID AXIS OF ROTATION, 